Construction and method for jointing a plurality of steel members using shear rings

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a construction and method for jointing steel members using shear rings, achieving a jointing construction to which a real shearing force can be applied, improving working conditions, the jointing strength and durability, and reducing material. The construction has at least one first steel member and at least one second steel member overlapped together and respectively having at least a bolt hole and at least an annular groove, and at least one shear ring inserted in the annular groove of both the first steel member and the second steel member to prevent slip between the first steel member and the second steel member. The annular groove is formed at each of contact surfaces of the first steel member and the second steel member, and the bolt hole has a first clearance while the annular groove of at least one of the first steel member and the second steel member has a second clearance smaller than the first clearance. The second clearance allows a deformation or a displacement of the first steel member and the second steel member against an assembling force by the bolt and the nut until the bolt comes in contact with a side wall of the bolt hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a construction and method for jointingsteel members using shear rings, and more particularly to a constructionand method for jointing steel members using shear rings, achieving ajointing construction to which a real shearing force can be applied injointing the steel base member and the steel overlapping plate by usingbolts and shear rings in constructing a steel structure such as abuilding, a bridge and machinery, thereby improving working conditions,reducing material, and improving the jointing strength and durability.

2. Prior Arts

In general, various constructions for assembling or jointing steelplates or steel members are used in fields of not only architecture andcivil engineering works for bridges, high-story buildings, etc., butalso shipbuilding, aircraft industry and general machinery industry, andthe constructions in these fields use various methods including welding,bolt-assembling, etc., for assembling or attaching steel plates or steelbeams (hereinafter, steel members).

Welding is not common due to its difficulty in working and problem ofcorrosion. Instead, so-called friction jointing method depending onaxial force of bolts is commonly utilized nowadays.

However, in case of the friction jointing method depending on axialforces, after the steel members are jointed or assembled, the initialstate can be maintained only in a range of along-time axial force of thebolt or a simple shearing strength of the bolt.

Therefore, since load of the steel member up to hundreds of tons shouldbe held by the frictional force by the axial forces of the bolts, alarge number of bolts are used in assembling or jointing the steelmembers, which requires great human labor and appliance, although it isnot easy to achieve even the required jointing force and moreover theworking is prolonged.

To solve the above problems, proposed have been some inventions, inwhich a plurality of reinforcing piece are inserted in the jointingsurface to be attracted into the base member when the bolt and the nutare assembled together, or in which the jointing surface is formeduneven (friction-jointing method), so as to increase the frictionalforce. However, there remains a problem of still requiring a largenumber of bolts and nuts since it is difficult to obtain more than oneand half times of jointing force in average only by the increase of thefrictional force. Further, the large number of bolts decreases theeffective sectional area, which successively decreases the jointingstrength and increases the number of working steps. Especially when thebolts are released by dynamic load for long time, there is no solution.

When the reinforcing pieces are located between the jointing surfacesand attached by an adhesive, they are released again during assembling.Further, it is difficult to get a jointing force capable of forcing thereinforcing pieces by bolts, which means it is impossible to employ thismethod.

In Korean Patent Application No. 98-23239, which was invented by theinventor of the present invention to overcome the above problems, object1 and 2 to be jointed are jointed by bolts 3, nuts 7 and washers 8through joint hole 3, and press-fitting rings 5 are inserted in theannular grooves 4 formed at the object 1 and 2, so that a shearing forceis exerted to the press-fitting rings 5.

Although a large number of bolts and nuts can be saved through the aboveconstruction, its working has been nearly impossible because it isdifficult to insert the remaining part of the press-fitting ring 5 intothe annular groove 4 in the second one of the objects 1 and 2 in thecourse of overlapping the objects 1 and 2 after inserting a part of thepress-fitting ring 5 into the annular groove 4 in the first one of theobjects 1 and 2. In case the press-fitting ring 5 has an inclined sidewall surface 5b of an annular body 5a and inclined corners 5c, insertingof the press-fitting ring 5 and jointing of the objects 1 and 2 becomeeasier. However, a severe tensional load is applied to the bolts 6 dueto the partial force by the inclined side wall surface 5b so as toprecipitate the break of the bolts 6.

As a result of test under various load conditions after jointing theobjects 1 and 2 with having inserted the press-fitting ring 5, we foundthat the objects 1 and 2 having weak surface strength compared to thepress-fitting ring 5 are locally broken or damaged with ease as shown inFIGS. 18 and 20 before the happening of shearing force by change oftemperature, static load, vibration, earthquake, dynamic load, etc., andthat such local break or damage causes the break of the bolts whichdisturbs employment of this technic.

Therefore, the inventor of the present invention has invented thepresent invention through researching instead of applying the abovetechnic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to overcome the above describedproblems of the prior arts, and accordingly it is an object of thepresent invention to provide a construction and a method for jointingsteel members using shear rings, and more particularly to a constructionand method for jointing steel members using shear rings, achieving ajointing construction to which a real shearing force can be applied injointing the steel base member and the steel overlapping plate by usingbolts and shear rings, thereby improving working conditions, reducingmaterial, and improving the jointing strength and durability.

According to the present invention to achieve the above object, providedis a construction for jointing a plurality of steel members using shearrings, said construction comprising:

at least one first steel member and at least one second steel memberoverlapped together, the first steel member and the second steel memberrespectively having at least a bolt hole and at least an annular groove,the bolt hole being formed through each of the first steel member andthe second steel member, the annular groove being formed at each ofcontact surfaces of the first steel member and the second steel member,the first steel member and the second steel member being jointedtogether by at least one bolt inserted through the bolt hole andtightened by a nut, the bolt hole having a first clearance, the annulargroove of one of the first steel member and the second steel memberhaving a second clearance smaller than the first clearance, and at leastone shear ring inserted in the annular groove of both the first steelmember and the second steel member to prevent slip between the firststeel member and the second steel member together with the bolt and thenut,

wherein the second clearance allows a deformation or a displacement ofthe first steel member and the second steel member against a tighteningforce by the bolt and the nut until a predetermined limit, and thesecond clearance allows a shearing force to be applied to the shear ringby the deformation or the displacement after the predetermined limit,the bolt coming in contact with a side wall of the bolt hole at thepredetermined limit, the deformation or the displacement being caused bytemperature change, static load, vibration, earthquake, dynamic load,etc., the shear ring having a central side wall surface arranged at aside wall surface of the shear ring, the central side wall surfacecoming in contact with at least a part of each side wall of the firststeel member and the second steel member up and down from the contactsurfaces of the first steel member and the second steel member forapplying a real shear force to the shear ring when the contact due tothe deformation or the displacement happens at the second clearance.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, theconstruction for jointing a plurality of steel members using shearrings, said construction comprises:

at least one first steel member and at least one second steel memberoverlapped together, the first steel member and the second steel memberrespectively having at least a bolt hole and at least an annular groove,the bolt hole being formed through each of the first steel member andthe second steel member, the annular groove being formed at each ofcontact surfaces of the first steel member and the second steel member,the first steel member and the second steel member being jointedtogether by at least are bolt inserted through the bolt hole andtightened by a nut; and

at least one shear ring inserted in the annular grooves of both thefirst steel member and the second steel member to prevent slip betweenthe first steel member and the second steel member together with thebolt and the nut,

wherein insertion-guiding surfaces are formed at both corners of theupper end of the shear ring in section, so that the shear ring can beeasily inserted in the annular groove of the first steel member evenwith nearly no allowance, in case where there is nearly no deformationor displacement of the first steel member and the second steel member bytemperature change, vibration, earthquake, dynamic load, etc., exceptstatic load. By this construction, the working condition is greatlyimproved because the shear ring can be more easily inserted in theannular ring of the first steel member. Further, the first and thesecond steel members can be more firmly jointed together because theshear ring can be inserted in the annular groove of the first steelmember nearly without allowance.

The present invention also provides a method for jointing a plurality ofsteel members using shear rings, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) forming bait holes respectively at plural first steel members andplural second steel members which are overlapped and assembled together;

(2) forming at least one annular groove at each of contact surfaces ofthe first steel members and the second steel members overlappedtogether, the annular groove of the second steel members having a sizecapable of tightly receiving a part of the shear ring, and the annulargroove of the first steel member having a size capable of receiving theshear ring with a second clearance;

(3) forcedly inserting and fixing a part of the shear ring in theannular groove of the second steel member,

(4) inserting and then maintaining a remaining part of the shear ring inthe annular groove of the first steel member by relatively displacingand approaching the first steel member and the second steel member in astate that the first steel member and the second steel member areoverlapped, to thereby align the first steel member and the second steelmember,

(5) inserting each bolt in each bolt hole of the first steel member andthe second steel member; and

(6) tightening each bolt inserted in each bolt hole of the fast steelmember and the second steel member by each nut, so that the shear ringis completely inserted and forced in the annular grooves of the firststeel member and the second steel member, to thereby complete jointingof the first steel member and the second steel member by the bolt, thenut and the shear rings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above object, and other features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferredembodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the conventional construction forjointing steel members using the forced rings;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the jointing construction shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partly enlarged section of the jointing construction shownin FIG. 1 for describing the process of forcedly inserting the forcedring into the second one of the object to be jointed after the forcedring has been inserted in the first one of the object;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a construction for jointing steel membersusing shear rings according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the part near the shear ring ofthe construction shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6—6 in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7a and 7 b are enlarged sectional views of the part near the shearring for showing constructions according to other embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the part near the shear ring forshowing a construction according to another embodiment of the presentinvention:

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a shear ring according to the presentinvention:

FIG. 10 is a partly enlarged sectional view for describing the processof inserting and fixing the shear ring according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view for describing the operation of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a plan view for describing the operation of the presentinvention

FIGS. 13a and 13 b are sectional views for describing the process ofjointing the base member and the overlapping plate together according tothe present invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of another jointing construction accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the jointing construction of FIG. 14 inwhich the shear ring has been inserted in the overlapping plate;

FIG. 16 is a view of an arrangement for showing various jointingconstruction according to the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a tool for simultaneously forming thebolt holes and the annular grooves;

FIG. 18 is a partial plan view of the conventional jointing constructionby the forced ring in a state when an excessive load has been exerted;

FIG. 19 is a partial plan view of a jointing construction of the presentinvention by the forced ring in a state when an excessive load has beenexerted;

FIG. 20 is a partial front view of the conventional jointingconstruction in which buckling has happened; and

FIG. 21 is a partial front view of a jointing construction of thepresent invention in which buckling is prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Several preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a construction for jointing steel membersusing the shear rings according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the part near theshear ring of the construction shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is asectional view along line 6—6 in FIG. 4.

In a construction for jointing steel base members 110 and steeloverlapping plate 120 using shear rings 10 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the base members 110 andthe overlapping plates 120 respectively having bolt holes 111 and 121are overlapped and then assembled by screwing bolts 30 screwed throughthe bolt holes 111 and 12l into nuts 31.

At least one line of annular grooves 112 and 122 is formed at eachcontact surface of both the base member 110 and the overlapping plate120, and the shear rings 10 are inserted in the annular grooves 112 and122 of the base member 110 and the overlapping plate 120, so that they,together with the bolt 30 and the nut 31, can prevent sliding betweenthe base member 110 and the overlapping plate 120.

In this construction, arranged in the annular groove 112 of the basemember 110 is a second clearance d2 smaller than a first clearance d1 ofthe bolt holes 111 and 121, according to the present invention.

The second clearance d2 arranged in the annular groove 112 can serve thefollowing function.

That is, in case where external stress due to temperature change, staticload, vibration, earthquake, dynamic load, etc., is applied directly tothe shear rings 10, the base member 110 having weak surface strength canbe locally broken or damaged to protrude between the contact surfaces,thereby breaking the bolts 6, and especially the contracting orexpanding force due to the temperature change, which is generatedaccording to the coefficient (1.2×10⁻⁵ l/° C.) of linear expansion ofthe iron, can make this phenomenon more severe. However, the secondclearance d2 arranged in the annular groove 112 of the base member 110according to the present invention can absorb the deformation ordisplacement by the contracting or expanding force according to thetemperature change, and only the force producing deformation ordisplacement larger than the second clearance d2 can serve as a shearingforce to the shear rings 10.

Therefore, such a large shearing force as that in the constructionwithout the second clearance d2 is not applied to the shear rings 10. Inresult, even though such a deformation force as that in FIG. 18 isapplied, in case the second clearance d2 is arranged in the annulargrooves 112 as shown in FIG. 19, the bolt holes 111 and 121 of the shearring 10 and the base member 110 maintain their original shapes, tothereby maintain their safe state differently from the conventionalconstruction. This enables employing the shear ring 10, not thepress-fitting ring.

Further, when the buckling happens by the same load, the result as shownin FIGS. 20 and 21 happens because of similar reason, with respect tothe constructions of FIGS. 2 and 4.

That is, FIG. 20 shows a phenomenon that the base member 110 experiencesbuckling D by a length corresponding to the expansion X or thecontraction of the base member 110, because the jointing part can notabsorb the deformation or displacement of the base member 110 due to itscontraction, expansion etc.

However, the jointing construction, according to the present inventionreveals an effect of preventing or minimizing the buckling by absorbingthe expansion X of the contraction of the base member 110 by the secondclearance d2 and restoring to the original state, as shown in FIG. 21.

As described above, according to the present invention, strength againstbreak or buckling can be largely increased by arranging the secondclearance d2 between the base member 110 and the shear ring 10 ininserting the shear ring 10, and also a large deformation force can beabsorbed by ensuring movability of the jointing portion throughadjusting of the second clearance d2.

Moreover, in the present invention, it is more preferable that thesecond clearance d2 of the annular groove 112 of the base member 110 isset to be smaller than the first clearance d1 of the bolt holes 111 and121 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, so that the lateral load is applied tothe shear ring 10, never to bolt 30. In this case, the lateral load isfirstly applied against the coupling force of the bolt 30 and the nut31. However, when the lateral load increases to be larger than theresistance by the coupling force, secondly it is applied to the shearring 10, and the side wall portions of the bolt holes 111 and 121increase do not contact with the bolt 30, so that the shearing force isnot applied to the bolt 30. Accordingly, since a complex stress is notapplied to the bolt 30, the number of the bolts can be largely reducedin comparison with the conventional friction jointing method and sincethe sectional area of the base member 110 and overlapping plate 120 canbe largely increased to thereby reduce their thickness and width, thematerial to be used can be largely reduced.

Moreover, the increased effective sectional area of the base member 110and overlapping plate 120 enables the first clearance d1 of the boltholes 111 and 121 to be increased, and the shear rings 10 achievesufficient jointing strength to thereby realize employment of thickersteel base member 110 and thicker steel overlapping plate 120.Meanwhile, according to another aspect of the present invention, theshear ring 10 has a central side wall surface 15 being in contact withat least a part of the side wall of the base member 110 in verticaldirection from the contact surface of the overlapping plate 120 and thebase member 110, so that the shearing force as pure as possible can beapplied to the shear ring 10 when the base member 110 or the overlappingplate 120 is deformed or displaced as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8.

Further, in FIGS. 4 to 8, the central circles of the annular grooves 112and 122 coincide with each other, and the annular groove 122 of the basemember 110 has a larger width than that of the annular groove 112 of theoverlapping plate 120, so that the second clearance d2 is formed equallyat both sides. According the types and conditions of the load, thesecond clearance d2 may be formed only at one side.

Moreover, in the jointing construction of the present invention, theshear ring 10 may be constructed to be prevented from being separatedwhen it has been partially inserted in the annular groove 122 of theoverlapping plate 120, so as to joint the base member 110 and theoverlapping plate 120 more easily. In order to prevent such aseparation, a part of the shear ring 10 may be forcedly inserted andfixed in the annular groove 122. Holding protuberances 16 formed at theouter surface of the side wall of the shear ring 10 as shown in FIGS. 5and 9 may further prevent separation of the inserted shear ring. Also,an adhesive may be applied between the shear ring 10 and the annulargroove 122 of the overlapping plate 120, so as to prevent the separationand ensure fixing, or the shear ring 10 may be magnetized to be firmlyreceived in the groove by the magnetic force. The above several examplesmay be employed simultaneously, and especially when the force forpreventing separation is sufficient, a relief surface 17 may bepreferably formed as shown in FIGS. 7b and 9, so as to reduce theinserting force.

Further, the annular groove 122 of the overlapping elate 120 and a sidesurface of the shear ring 10 may be threaded as shown in FIG. 8, so thatthe shear ring 10 can be not only prevented from being separated by thescrew-engagement but also inserted more easily into the annular groove122 of the overlapping plate 120 through the screwing movement.

FIGS. 4 to 8 shows various jointing constructions in which a part of theshear ring 10 is fixed in the annular groove 112 of the overlappingplate 120, and then the other part of the shear ring 10 is inserted inthe annular groove 112 of increase base member 110 after the overlappingplate 120 is located closer to the base member 110 as shown in FIGS. 13aand 13 b. FIG. 5 shows chamfers 11 formed at the upper and lower cornersof the shear ring 10, FIG. 7a shows a partial section of an arc surface12 formed at the upper part of the central side wall surface 15, andFIG. 7b shows an inclined surface 13 formed at the upper part of thecentral sidewall surface 15. Owing to the arc surface 12, the inclinedsurface 13 or the chamfer 11, when the base member 110 and theoverlapping plate 120 are jointed together as shown in FIG. 13a, theshear ring 10 can be easily caught and received in the annular groove112 of the base member 110, with a margin of the second clearance d2:This enables employment of the shear ring 10 and largely improvesconstructing conditions.

A jointing construction according to another embodiment or the presentinvention has insertion-guiding surfaces 18 formed at both corners ofthe upper end of the shear ring 10 which is inserted in the annulargroove 112 of the base member 110 nearly without allowance as shown inFIG. 13b. This construction may be employed in case where there isnearly no deformation or displacement of the base member 110 and theoverlapping plate 120 by temperature change, etc. In this case, theother part of the shear ring 10 is caught in the annular groove 112 ofthe base member 110, so as to achieve an easy insertion. Also, when thebolt 30 is assembled, insertion of the shear ring 10 is guided by theinsertion-guiding surfaces 18, to achieve a further easy insertion. Thisalso largely improves the working condition. Furthermore, more firmjointing can be achieved when the annular groove has a contact surfacewhich comes into contact with the insertion-guiding surfaces 18 when theshear ring 10 has been completely inserted.

It is possible that only annular grooves 112 and 122 are formedeccentrically from the bolt holes 111 and 121 and the shear ring 10 isinstalled in the annular grooves 112 and 122, as shown in FIG. 16.However, FIG. 17 shows a simultaneously-working-tool 20 capable ofsimultaneously forming the annular grooves 112 and 122 and the bolt 30when at feast one of the annular grooves 112 and 122 is formedconcentrically with the bolt holes 111 and 121 of the base member 110and the overlapping plate 120. The simultaneously-working-tool 20 has anedge 21 for forming bolt hales and another edge 22 for forming grooves,which are formed integrally and concentric with each other at a rotatingshaft 23. The simultaneously-working-tool 20 eliminates the workingerror to thereby enable more precise working.

In view of such working, it is preferred that the peripheries of theannular grooves 112 and 122 and the shear rings 10 are circles. That is,when a circular shear ring 10 is employed as shown in FIG. 12 theshearing force is dispersed as shown by arrows at various angles in aplane and accordingly is transferred to nearly entire area of the sidewall surfaces of the annular grooves 112 and 122 and nearly entire areaof the side wall surface of the shear ring 10. Therefore, the circularshear ring 10 can be said most effective. Of course, the presentinvention does not exclude an employment of a polygonal shear ring.Further, although shear rings 14 having a closed periphery have beendescribed and drawn in the above embodiments, the present inventionincludes a shear ring 10 having an open periphery which means a part ofthe periphery is cut out.

Preferably, the shear ring 10 may be made from material resistant tocorrosion or oxidation such as a heat-treated stainless steel named SUS630, or may be subjected to a rust-resistance treatment after treated byheat in order to prevent oxidation especially in case of a generalstructural steel. More preferably, the shear ring 10 may be made frommaterial having strength and stiffness not lower than those of the basemember 110 and the overlapping plate 120, and can be made from ansynthetic resin having the same strength as, or higher strength andstiffness than, that of a steel beam. The shear ring 10 may contain amaterial responding to non-destructive inspection so that the existenceand the location of the shear ring 10 can be sensed by thenon-destructive inspection such as a radiation inspection, an X-rayinspection and a magnetic inspection, after construction. Further, anidentifier such as a bar-code may be attached to the shear ring 10 tothereby enable identification of its size, kind, etc., together with theinspection.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a jointing construction in which the base member110 and the overlapping plate 120 respectively have three lines ofannular grooves 112 and 122 in which three shear rings 10 havingdiameters different from one another are inserted respectively. Further,in an arrangement in the jointing construction shown in FIG. 16, a shearring 10 is disposed in one annular groove 112 and 122 concentric withthe bolt holes 111 and 121, two shear rings 10 are disposed in two finesof annular grooves 112 and 122 concentric with the bolt holes 111 and121, and another shear ring is disposed in annular grooves 112 and 122eccentric with the bolt holes 111 and 121. The present inventionincludes such an arrangement of the shear rings 10 with a wide variety.

In a method of jointing the steel members in order to embody the presentinvention having the above construction, one part of the shear rings 10are firstly inserted in the annular grooves 122 of the overlappingplates 120, and then other part of the shear rims 10 is inserted in theannular grooves 112 of the base member 110 by moving and attaching theoverlapping plates 120 near to both sides of the base member 110.Thereafter, the bolt 30 is inserted through the bolt holes 111 and 121of the base member 110 and the overlapping plate 120 and then tightenedby the nut 31. Then, the simultaneous assembling of the shear rings 10is completed.

In order to achieve the above, at first, bolt holes 111 and 121 arerespectively formed at plural base members 110 and plural overlappingplates 120 which are to be overlapped and assembled together(bolt-hole-forming stage), and then at least one line of annular groove112 and 122 is formed at contact surfaces of the base member 110 and theoverlapping plate 120 to be overlapped together (annular-groove-formingstage). In this case, the annular groove 122 of the overlapping plate120 has a size capable of tightly receiving a part of the shear ring 10,and the annular groove 112 of the base member 110 has a size capable ofreceiving the shear ring 10 with a second clearance d2. The secondclearance d2 can be determined to be smaller than a first clearance d1by a difference having a range in which, 0<d2<1.5 mm. The secondclearance d2 can be changed according to the standard of the materialsuch as the quality of the base member 110 and the overlapping elate120, the quality and the kinds of the used bolts including bolts forconstruction and civil engineering, and the size of the bolt holes.

In a design in which the shear ring 10 is inserted in the annular groove112 of the base member 110 with nearly no allowance as shown in FIG.13b, the annular groove 112 of the base member 110 is formed without thesecond clearance d2. Further, in a design in which the annular grooves112 and 122 are concentric with the bolt holes 111 and 121 of the basemember 110 and the overlapping plate 120, the bolt-hole-forming stageand the annular-groove-forming stage can be simultaneously, performed bythe simultaneously-working-tool 20 as shown in FIG. 17. Also, aplurality of bolt holes 111 and 121 or a plurality of annular grooves112 and 122 may be formed simultaneously by a multi-spindle drillingmachine.

Thereafter, a part of the shear ring 10 is forcedly inserted and fixedin the annular groove 122 of the overlapping plate 120 as shown in FIG.10 (a part-of-shear ring-fixing stage). The shear ring 10 is rotated tobe fixed instead of being forcedly inserted when it is threaded as shownin FIG. 8. The overlapping plate increase 120 to which the shear ring 10is fixed as above is moved near to the jointing surface of the basemember 110 and is displaced with respect to the base member 110. Whenthe shear ring 10 is caught in the annular groove 112 of the base member110 having the second clearance d2, the other part of the shear ring 10is inserted into the annular groove 112 (the-other-part-of-shearring-inserting stage). Then, the bolt 30 is inserted in the bolt holes111 and 121 of the overlapping plate 120 and the base member 110(bolt-inserting stage).

The above a-part-of-shear ring-fixing stage can be performed easily whenan arc surface 12, an inclined surface 13 or a chamfer 11 is formed nearboth ends excepting the central sidewall surface 15 of the shear ring 10as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 b, and the above the-other-part-of-shearring-inserting stage and bolt-inserting stage can be performed moreeasily when the insertion-guiding surfaces 18 are formed.

Thereafter, the bolt 30 inserted in the bolt holes 111 and 121 istightened by the nut 31 (bolt-tightening stage), so that the shear ring10 is completely inserted and forced in the annular grooves 112 and 122of the base member 110 and the overlapping plate 120. Then, the jointingof the base member 110 and the overlapping plate 120 by the bolt 30, thenut 31 and the shear rings 10 is completed.

The above the-other-part-of-shear ring-inserting stage andbolt-inserting stage may further include a bolt-hole-aligning stage, inwhich the bolt holes 111 and 121 of the base member 110 and theoverlapping plate 120 are precisely aligned by laterally displacing oneof the base member 110 and the overlapping plate 120 until the secondclearances d2 at an inner wall and at an outer wall of the shear ring 10become equal to each other. Preferably, the bolt-hole-aligning stage maybe performed in a state that the nut has been so tightened that there isno slip between the overlapping plate 120 and the base member 110 due totheir weight, and then the nut may be completely tightened.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, the secondclearance d2 may formed in the annular groove 122 of the overlappingplate 120, in which case the shear ring 10 is firstly fixed in theannular groove 112 of the base member 110. Even in a state that theshear ring 10 is fixed in the base member 110, the position of the,overlapping member 120 can be easily set to highly improve the workingcondition, since the overlapping plate 120 and the base member 110including the shear ring 10 may be jointed together according to thejointing method of the present invention as described above.

The following result has been obtained by experimenting with the shearring 10.

First, in case the shear ring 10 is installed, at a concentric circlewith respect to a high-tensile bolt of M20, the employed sizes have beenas follows: the outer and the inner diameters of the shear ring 10 arerespectively 60 mm and 40 mm; the annular groove 122 of the overlappingplate 120 has the same outer and inner diameters; the outer and theinner diameters of the annular groove 112 of the base member 110 arerespectively 60.5 mm and 39.5 mm; and the second clearance 0.5 mm.Further, a size of at least 0.5 mm has been employed for the firstclearance d1 of the bolt holes 111 and 121.

The compression test on this condition has shown the following result incomparison with the conventional friction jointing method. That is, aninitial slip has happened at a load of about 38.5 tons in the jointingconstruction of the present invention, while an initial slip hashappened at load of about 7.5 tons in the conventional jointingconstruction, which means the construction of the present invention isstronger by about five times than the conventional construction

Further, the jointing construction of the .present invention has a meanfrictional coefficient of 4.28, while the conventional friction jointingconstruction has a mean frictional coefficient of 0.8, which means theconstruction of the present invention has a frictional coefficientlarger by about six and a half times than that of the conventionalconstruction. Moreover, in a yielding test, the jointing construction ofthe present invention has shown a resistance to the shearing forcelarger more than six times in comparison with the conventionalconstruction.

In an aspect of material reduction, while the conventional constructionrequires thirty two high-tensile bolts 30 to have an anticipatedfrictional force of 240 tons, the jointing construction of the presentinvention requires only eight high-tensile bolts 30 and eight shearrings 10 to have an anticipated shearing resistance of 308 tons.Therefore, in comparison with the conventional construction, thejointing construction of the present invention reveals an increase ofshearing resistance by 68 tons in total and an increased average ofjointing force by 6.3 times by every bolt, which enables reduction ofthe number of the assembled bolts to {fraction (1/6.3)} of its maximumvalue. Accordingly, material for the base member 110 and the overlappingplate 120 can be largely reduced, when the effective sectional area ismaintained the same.

Further, the shear ring 10 can minimize danger factors in an aspect ofmaintaining the safety in relation to the release of the bolts 30 by theearthquake, vibration, etc.

In a buckling deformation of a steel beam according to expansion causedby a large temperature or load, under the same condition, while theconventional friction jointing method reveals the buckling deformation Das shown in FIG. 20, the second clearance d2 absorbs the expansion tothereby prevent the buckling and maintain the original shape in thejointing construction of the present invention. This explains that thejointing construction of the present invention has an accommodationcapability of absorbing the buckling force.

By the construction and method for .jointing steel members using shearrings according to several embodiments of the present invention asdescribed above, deformation such as contraction, expansion and bucklingof the steel beam according to load, earthquake, large temperaturechange, etc., can be prevented by providing the shear ring 10, and thejointing construction can be maintained in a highly stable state.Further, the jointing position of the base member 110 and theoverlapping plate 120 can be easily adjusted, and the adjusted steelmembers can be maintained at their position in a stable manner.

Moreover, the second clearance d2 makes the jointing work easier ingreat degree, and the increase of jointing force, the reduction of thenumber and assembling work of the bolts, and the increase of theeffective sectional area cause the increase of the strength of theconstruction or the reduction of the material, thereby reducing time,expense and material for the jointing work. Besides, duration requiringuse of high-priced heavy constructional machines can be reduced, andinstead simple, easy, safe and precise work is possible in a shortperiod. In addition, achieved are the following advantages: a strongpointing force; an improved durability; easy maintenance; and so on.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to the particular embodiments thereof, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be effected therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for jointing a plurality of steelmembers using shear rings, said method comprising the steps of (1)forming bolt holes respectively at plural first steel members and pluralsecond steel members which are overlapped and assembled together; (2)forming at least one annular groove at each of contact surfaces of thefirst steel members and the second steel members overlapped together,the annular groove of the second steel members having a size capable oftightly receiving a part of the shear ring, and the annular groove ofthe first steel member having a size capable of receiving the shear ringwith a second clearance; (3) forcedly inserting and fixing a part of theshear ring in the annular groove of the second steel member; (4)inserting and then maintaining a remaining part of the shear ring in theannular groove of the first steel member by relatively displacing andapproaching the first steel member and the second steel member in astate that the first steel member and the second steel member areoverlapped, to thereby align the first steel member and the second steelmember; (5) inserting each bolt in each bolt hole of the first steelmember and the second steel member; and (6) tightening each boltinserted in each bolt hole of the first steel member and the secondsteel member by each nut, so that the shear ring is completely insertedand forced in the annular grooves of the first steel member and thesecond steel member, to thereby complete jointing of the first steelmember and the second steel member by the bolt, the nut and the shearrings.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, before completelytightening each nut, said method further comprises a step of preciselyaligning the bolt holes of the first steel member and the second steelmember by laterally displacing one of the first steel member and thesecond steel member so that the second clearance becomes equal to eachother at an inner wall and at an outer wall of the shear ring when theannular grooves of the first steel member and the second steel memberhave a same center line; wherein, at least one of an arc surface, aninclined surface and a chamfer is formed near both ends excepting acentral side wall surface of the shear ring, so that the remaining partof the shear ring can be caught by and forcedly inserted into theannular groove of the first steel member with ease in the steps of 3, 4and 6; wherein the shear ring is guided to be inserted in the annulargroove of the first steel member nearly without allowance byinsertion-guiding surfaces formed at both corners of an upper end of theshear ring in the steps of 4 and 6, the annular groove of the firststeel member having no second allowance, where there is nearly nodeformation or displacement of the first steel member and the secondsteel member, excluding deformation by static load; wherein the annulargroove is circular and formed concentric with the bolt hole, the bolthole and the concentric annular groove being formed by asimultaneously-working-tool having an edge for forming bolt holes andanother edge for forming grooves concentric with each other; and whereinthe shear ring allows an increase in an effective sectional area byreducing number of assembled bolts due to its shearing strength, tothereby increase the first clearance of the bolt hole and thickness ofthe first steel member and the second steel member.
 3. A constructionfor jointing a plurality of steel members using shear rings, saidconstruction comprising: at least one first steel member and at leastone second steel member overlapped together, the first steel member andthe second steel member respectively having at least a bolt hole and atleast an annular groove, the bolt hole being formed through each of thefirst steel member and the second steel member, the annular groove beingformed at each of contact surfaces of the first steel member and thesecond steel member, the first steel member and the second steel memberbeing jointed together by at least one bolt inserted through the bolthole and tightened by a nut, the bolt hole having a first clearance, theannular groove of one of the first steel member and the second steelmember having a second clearance smaller than the first clearance, andat least one shear ring inserted in the annular groove of bath the firststeel member and the second steel member to prevent slip between thefirst steel member and the second steel member together with the boltand the nut; wherein the second clearance allows a deformation or adisplacement of the first steel member and the second steel memberagainst a tightening force by the bolt and the nut until a predeterminedlimit, and the second clearance allows a shearing force to be applied tothe shear ring by the deformation or the displacement after thepredetermined limit, the bolt coming in contact with a side wall of thebolt hole at the predetermined limit, the shear ring having a centralside wall surface arranged at a side wall surface of the shear ring, thecentral side wall surface coming in contact with at least a part of eachside wall of the first steel member and the second steel member up anddown from the contact surfaces of the first steel member and the secondsteel member for applying a real shear force to the shear ring when thecontact due to the deformation or the displacement happens at the secondclearance.
 4. A construction as claimed in claim 3, wherein the secondclearance is arranged by forming the annular groove of the first steelmember wider than the annular groove of the second steel member wherethe first steel member is a base member which is overlapped by thesecond steel member, and one of the following treatments is executed toprevent separation of the shear ring during overlapping and assembling:forcedly inserting a part of the shear ring into the annular groove ofthe second steel member; forming a separation-preventing protuberance atan outer wall surface of the shear ring; adhering the shear ring intothe annular groove of the second steel member by adhesive; magnetizingthe shear ring; and threading at one side wall surface of the shear ringand the annular groove of the second steel member.
 5. A construction asclaimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of an arc surface, an inclinedsurface and a chamfer is formed at the shear ring from the central sidewall surface, so that a remaining part of the shear ring can be caughtby and forcedly inserted into the annular groove of the first steelmember with ease when the first steel member and the second steel memberare relatively displaced and approached in a state that the first steelmember and the second steel member are overlapped.
 6. A construction asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the annular groove of the first steel memberand the second steel member is formed concentric with the bolt hole, thebolt hole and the concentric annular groove being formed by asimultaneously-working-tool having an edge for forming bolt holes andanother edge for forming the annular groove concentric with each other,the annular groove and the shear ring respectively having a peripheryshaped as one of a polygon and a circle, the periphery of the shear ringbeing one of an open type and a closed type, the shear ring due to itsshearing strength increasing an effective sectional area by reducingnumber of assembled bolts in comparison with a conventional frictionjointing method, to thereby allow an increase in the first clearance ofthe bolt hole and thickness of the first steel member and the secondsteel member, and the shear ring being subject to a corrosion-resistingtreatment and formed to contain a material responding to non-destructiveinspection.